(a) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of G.S. 14-44
and 14-45, it shall not be unlawful, during the first 20 weeks of a woman's
pregnancy, to advise, procure, or cause a miscarriage or abortion when the
procedure is performed by a qualified physician licensed to practice medicine
in North Carolina in a hospital or clinic certified by the Department of Health
and Human Services to be a suitable facility for the performance of abortions.

(a1) The Department of Health and Human Services shall
annually inspect any clinic, including ambulatory surgical facilities, where
abortions are performed. The Department of Health and Human Services shall
publish on the Department's Web site and on the State Web site established under
G.S. 90-21.84 the results and findings of all inspections conducted on or after
January 1, 2013, of clinics, including ambulatory surgical facilities, where
abortions are performed, including any statement of deficiencies and any notice
of administrative action resulting from the inspection. No person who is less
than 18 years of age shall be employed at any clinic, including ambulatory
surgical facilities, where abortions are performed. The requirements of this
subsection shall not apply to a hospital required to be licensed under Chapter
131E of the General Statutes.

(b) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of G.S. 14-44
and 14-45, it shall not be unlawful, after the twentieth week of a woman's
pregnancy, to advise, procure or cause a miscarriage or abortion when the
procedure is performed by a qualified physician licensed to practice medicine
in North Carolina in a hospital licensed by the Department of Health and Human
Services, if there is a medical emergency as defined by G.S. 90-21.81(5).

(b1) A qualified physician who advises, procures, or
causes a miscarriage or abortion after the sixteenth week of a woman's
pregnancy shall record all of the following: the method used by the qualified
physician to determine the probable gestational age of the unborn child at the
time the procedure is to be performed; the results of the methodology,
including the measurements of the unborn child; and an ultrasound image of the
unborn child that depicts the measurements. The qualified physician shall
provide this information, including the ultrasound image, to the Department of
Health and Human Services pursuant to G.S. 14-45.1(c).

A qualified physician who procures or causes a miscarriage or
abortion after the twentieth week of a woman's pregnancy shall record the findings
and analysis on which the qualified physician based the determination that
there existed a medical emergency as defined by G.S. 90-21.81(5) and shall
provide that information to the Department of Health and Human Services
pursuant to G.S. 14-45.1(c). Materials generated by the physician or provided
by the physician to the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to
this section shall not be public records under G.S. 132-1.

The information provided under this subsection shall be for
statistical purposes only, and the confidentiality of the patient and the
physician shall be protected. It is the duty of the qualified physician to
submit information to the Department of Health and Human Services that omits
identifying information of the patient and complies with Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

(c) The Department of Health and Human Services shall
prescribe and collect on an annual basis, from hospitals or clinics, including
ambulatory surgical facilities, where abortions are performed, statistical
summary reports concerning the medical and demographic characteristics of the
abortions provided for in this section, including the information described in
subsection (b1) of this section as it shall deem to be in the public interest.
Hospitals or clinics where abortions are performed shall be responsible for
providing these statistical summary reports to the Department of Health and
Human Services. The reports shall be for statistical purposes only and the
confidentiality of the patient relationship shall be protected. Materials
generated by the physician or provided by the physician to the Department of
Health and Human Services pursuant to this section shall not be public records
under G.S. 132-1.

(d) The requirements of G.S. 130A-114 are not
applicable to abortions performed pursuant to this section.

(e) No physician, nurse, or any other health care
provider who shall state an objection to abortion on moral, ethical, or
religious grounds shall be required to perform or participate in medical
procedures which result in an abortion. The refusal of a physician, nurse, or
health care provider to perform or participate in these medical procedures
shall not be a basis for damages for the refusal, or for any disciplinary or
any other recriminatory action against the physician, nurse, or health care
provider. For purposes of this section, the phrase "health care
provider" shall have the same meaning as defined under G.S. 90-410(1).

(f) Nothing in this section shall require a hospital,
other health care institution, or other health care provider to perform an
abortion or to provide abortion services.